Bessie Kutnak

WCatherine Mary Stewart is a veteran of over 30 years as an actor.  Starring in her first feature film in London, England at the tender age of 20, she decided to pursue a career as an actor and moved to Los Angeles, California.  

Perhaps the most recognizable title on Catherine’s resume is the classic comedy, “Weekend at Bernie’s”.  Catherine was cast in the lead female role of “Gwen”.  “Weekend at Bernie’s” is the hilarious romp about two Wall Street underlings played by Andrew McCarthy and Jonathon Silverman, who spend a weekend convincing a large group of beach wandering revelers that their boss, the deceased party animal, “Bernie”, is alive and well.  This is a movie that is referenced over and over again on sitcoms, on talk shows and even in our most recent election primary. 

Soon after arriving in LA, Catherine landed the role of “Kayla Brady” on the soap opera “Days of Our Lives”.  Not only does the soap opera endure to this day, but so does the very popular character that Catherine created.

While still on the soap, Catherine was cast as the lead female character, “Maggie” in the feature film “The Last Starfighter”.  This small but charming film has proven to withstand the test of time and has reached that of cult status to it’s many die-hard fans.  Immediately following “The Last Starfighter”, Catherine was cast as the lead in another cult classic, the quirky, end of the world, zombie film “Night of the Comet”.  Well ahead of its time, this is a story of two teenage sisters who find their own unique way of surviving the end of the world, as they know it.  Both “The Last Starfighter” and “Night of the Comet” are popular on the convention circuit.  Long time fans rave about their deeply fond memories of watching these films over and over again.  The relatable stories and characters have endured over time and the next generation have grasped on to them as well.   Catherine was emerging as a talent that could portray any character from girl next door to an Uzi slinging apocalypse survivor.  She followed with the bittersweet comedy “Mischief”, a coming of age movie set in small town Ohio in the 1950’s.  Stewart reveled in the period authenticity that was created.  She played a single minded, strong willed teen, defining the cultural norm and her conservative parents, to pursue true love.  

Stewart found herself in demand not only on the big screen but on the small screen as well.  Aaron Spelling, cast Catherine in the lavish mini-series, “Hollywood Wives”, based on the Jackie Collins epic novel about the dark inner workings of Hollywood.  The cast consisted of some of the most illustrious actors of our time, including Anthony Hopkins, Candice Bergen, Rod Steiger and Angie Dickinson.  This was followed by another highly regarded mini-series called “Sins” starring Joan Collins.  Catherine was honored to portray the young version on Collins’ character, Helene Junot.  Set and shot in and around Paris during the Nazi occupation of France during WWII, this role required both physical and mental endurance as the young Helene is captured and tortured by the Nazis.  Again Catherine was in the company of some of the greatest actors of our time such as Jean-Pierre Aumont, Lauren Hutton and even Gene Kelly.  Many, many TV movies and mini-series followed but one of Catherine’s proudest projects for television was called “The Sea Wolf”.   Based on the Jack London novel and set in the turn of the century, this is a dark high seas adventure about a brutal ship captain played by Charles Bronson, who brings a shipwrecked aristocrat played by Christopher Reeve, and a con woman, Catherine, aboard his doomed ship.

Catherine has worked steadily since first arriving in Los Angeles in 1980.  She is most grateful for having the opportunity to work with some of the greatest actors in film and television and for all that she learned from them.

Most recently Catherine has appeared on popular series including; “New Amsterdam”, “Limitless”, and “White Collar”, plus starring roles in many Hallmark, Lifetime and independent movies.  

Not only does Catherine continue to work in front of the camera, but she also writes, produces and directs.  She is presently developing projects for the big screen, television and the theatre.  insome comic’s comic Jann Karam – whose blithe and incisive standup work has long brightened national television screens and top-tier comedy stages - found her comedy career footing while attending Arizona State University performing in an improv group and regularly turning up on open mic nights at Macayo’s Mexican Food Restaurant in Scottsdale. She was paid one chimichanga per joke. After developing her act (and gaining 13 pounds), she moved to New York City, where she began working as a professional comedian. Her numerous TV credits -- stand up performances and series acting roles -- include repeat appearances on both The Tonight Show and The Late Show with David Letterman, HBO’s legendary 13th Annual Young Comedians’ Show, How to Live with Your Parents (for the Rest of Your Life), Comics Unleashed, The Arsenio Hall Show, Norm, Mad About You, Politically Incorrect, Dr. Katz, and many others. She was a regular sketch player in the last incarnation of The Carol Burnett Show and, in the now classic Seinfeld episode “The Switch,” Jann played Sandy (the one who never laughed)—rated #1 all-time inamorata by UPROXX in the 2014 feature, “A Very Important and Scientific Ranking of Jerry’s Girlfriends on ‘Seinfeld.’” Her latest claim to fame—bantering with comedy genius Larry David during her two co-starring roles on both season 11 and 12 of Curb Your Enthusiasm.

Jann’s critically acclaimed handpainted solo show, Reclining Nude on La Cienega (special intro by Dana Carvey), was recently produced and recorded for broadcast by legendary comedy icon and Laugh-In creator George Schlatter: https://youtu.be/vh3oIyMeB5U. As a filmmaker, her inimitably mischievous perspective is quite naturally enhanced in Under the Big Muu-Muu, Jann’s half-hour short that quirkily explores the universal agonies of seeking motherly approval. The Castle Rock Entertainment produced 35mm film earned multiple laurels on the festival circuit, as well as the deep admiration of the famously unsentimental Jerry Seinfeld:  "Funny and original. If you have a mother, when you get to the end, you can’t not cry.”

As a stand-up comedian (“a woman blessed with looks, talent and the gift of restraint,” declared the LA Times early on), Jann headlines nationwide and regularly tours with Dana Carvey and, incidentally, just played a role in Dana’s latest film project. She’s released three successful comedy albums—Live at the Blue Loon and Same Guy, DifferentShirt, most recently, Live at the Wren Theater, and taped her own documentary special, Beyond the Set, a jarringly intimate behind-the-scenes look at the emotional thrill-ride of stand-up comedy through her unique lens. In addition to theatre studies at Arizona State University (Jann graduated cum laude), she studied Improv at Chicago’s Second City with Del Close and was a longtime student of renowned acting teacher, Sanford Meisner (himself) in both New York and L.A. Jann currently resides with her two kitties, Julie and Harlow, in the Koreatown neighborhood of Los Angeles.